Iron is an essential element that participates in numerous cellular processes. Any disruption of iron homeostasis leads to either iron deficiency or iron overload, which can be detrimental for humans’ health, especially in elderly. Each of these changes contributes to the faster development of many neurological disorders or stimulates progression of already present diseases. Age-related cellular and molecular alterations in iron metabolism can also lead to iron dyshomeostasis and deposition. Iron deposits can contribute to the development of inflammation, abnormal protein aggregation, and degeneration in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to the progressive decline in cognitive processes, contributing to pathophysiology of stroke and dysfunctions of body metabolism. Besides, since iron plays an important role in both neuroprotection and neurodegeneration, dietary iron homeostasis should be considered with caution. Recently, there has been increased interest in sex-related differences in iron metabolism and iron homeostasis. These differences have not yet been fully elucidated. In this review we will discuss the latest discoveries in iron metabolism, age-related changes, along with the sex differences in iron content in serum and brain, within the healthy aging population and in neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke.

No abstract

No abstract

Neurological diseases such as stroke and multiple sclerosis are associated with high morbidity and mortality, long-term disability, and social and economic burden. Therefore, they represent a major challenge for medical treatment. Numerous evidences support the beneficial effects of polyphenols from olive trees, which can alleviate or even prevent demyelination, neurodegeneration, cerebrovascular diseases, and stroke. Polyphenols from olive oils, especially extra virgin olive oil, olive leaves, olive leaf extract, and from other olive tree derivatives, alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress, two major factors in demyelination. In addition, they reduce the risk of stroke due to their multiple anti-stroke effects, such as anti-atherosclerotic, antihypertensive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, and anti-thrombotic effects. In addition, olive polyphenols have beneficial effects on the plasma lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity in obese individuals. This review provides an updated version of the beneficial properties and mechanisms of action of olive polyphenols against demyelination in the prevention/mitigation of multiple sclerosis, the most common non-traumatic neurological cause of impairment in younger adults, and against cerebral insult with increasing incidence, that has already reached epidemic proportions.

It is increasingly recognized that modulation of brain inflammation may uncover new potential therapeutic strategies for stroke. Recent studies have shifted focus from immunological implications in ischemic stroke to a more devastating form; the hemorrhagic stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroinflammatory response in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) associated with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in the presence of low-dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). This retrospective study included 88 adults with primary ICH associated with IVH. Patients were divided into 2 groups: rt-PA group and non-rt-PA group, which received normal standard of care for this diagnosis. The rt-PA group was treated via catheter-based clot lysis using low-dose rt-PA injected through the external ventricular drain (EVD) system, and the non-rt-PA group was treated with saline applied to EVD system in equivalent volume. Cerebrospinal fluid samples from rt-PA were obtained from the EVD system at 4 time points: once before the drug administration, and then on day 1, 3, and 7. No attempt at randomization was made. The decision to inject rt-PA was based on the preference of the primary attending neurologist and the ability to obtain consent. Temporal interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth factor beta concentration changes were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups. The concentration of interleukin-1 beta was significantly lower in the rt-PA group than in the non-rt-PA group on day 7. In addition, the concentration of transforming growth factor beta was significantly higher in the rt-PA group than in the non-rt-PA group on day 1. There was a significant difference in interleukin-1 beta concentration between days 0 and 1 in comparison to day 3 in the rt-PA group, and between day 0 in comparison to day 3 and 7 in the non-rt-PA group. We also observed a significant difference in transforming growth factor beta concentration between days 0 and 1 and between days 3 and 7. The different pattern of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with ICH associated with IVH suggest distinct characteristics of secondary brain injury depending on the treatment modality.